Treehouse rental Overijssel - 1 treehouse

Where Rivers, Rolling Hills, and Rare Nature Collide

Overijssel is one of the Netherlands' best-kept secrets for nature lovers seeking something different. Located in the northeastern part of the country, this province stretches across approximately 3,421 square kilometers, making it the fourth largest province in the Netherlands by area. With a population of around 1.18 million, Overijssel offers a refreshing contrast to the crowded western regions while remaining easily accessible from major cities.

The province sits "beyond the IJssel" river, which is how it got its name, and shares a border with Germany to the east. This unique location means the landscape has been shaped by centuries of cultural exchange and natural forces alike. Unlike the pancake-flat stereotype often associated with the Netherlands, Overijssel surprises visitors with genuinely varied terrain: sandy hills formed during the Ice Age, ancient peat bogs, rolling heathlands, and an intricate network of waterways.

A Landscape Sculpted by Glaciers

The highest point in Overijssel is the summit of the Tankenberg, a hill in the municipality of Losser, reaching 89 meters (295 feet). While that might not sound impressive to mountain enthusiasts, in a country where much of the land sits at or below sea level, these gentle hills feel almost alpine. The lowest point lies in the Mastenbroek Polder near Kampen, sitting 2 meters below sea level.

The southeastern part of the province features mostly sandy soil with small rivers and brooks flowing through, including the Regge and the Dinkel. In the northwest, the geology is dominated by sediments from the Overijsselse Vecht river and clay deposits. This variety creates an ever-changing scenery that keeps outdoor enthusiasts engaged during their stay.

Why Overijssel Beckons Treehouse Seekers

For travelers tired of cookie-cutter accommodations and seeking a genuine connection with nature, booking a treehouse in Overijssel makes perfect sense. This province offers what many other Dutch regions cannot: the space to breathe, landscapes that feel untouched, and a pace of life that invites you to slow down.

Nature That Feels Wilder

Overijssel is home to varied landscapes including forests, heathland, meadows, and bogs with high scenic value and great biodiversity. The province contains two national parks that rank among the most impressive in the country. Weerribben-Wieden National Park, with over 10,000 hectares, is the largest continuous low peat bog area in northwestern Europe. This labyrinth of ponds, lakes, and reed beds provides habitat for thousands of plant and animal species, including otters that were successfully reintroduced in 2002.

Sallandse Heuvelrug National Park offers a completely different experience. This park is one of the largest contiguous dry heath areas in Western Europe. The moraine landscape was formed during the penultimate Ice Age, some 150,000 years ago, creating rolling hills that feel almost out of place in the Netherlands. The park is home to the last Dutch population of the black grouse, along with European nightjars and several lizard species.

Room to Roam Without the Crowds

While Amsterdam, Rotterdam, and The Hague draw millions of tourists, Overijssel remains wonderfully undiscovered by international visitors. The province maintains an extensive network of cycling paths connecting urban areas with rural landscapes and natural reserves. You can cycle for hours through forests, past historic estates, and along quiet canals without encountering the tourist buses that clog other parts of the country.

A Climate with Character

Overijssel enjoys an oceanic climate, though winters tend to be more severe than in western Netherlands due to its distance from the coast. This means crisp, atmospheric autumn and winter stays, with mist rising over peat bogs and frost sparkling on heathland. Summer brings long evenings perfect for sitting among the trees, watching wildlife emerge as daylight fades.

Medieval Trade Routes and Living History

Overijssel was not always a quiet backwater. During the Middle Ages, when Amsterdam and Rotterdam were still small villages, the Hanseatic cities in this region had already developed into powerful trading centers. Cities like Zwolle, Deventer, and Kampen were part of a network of approximately 200 Hanseatic cities that worked together across Northern Europe from the 12th to 16th century.

The Hanseatic League originally connected trading guilds seeking strength in numbers and mutual protection against pirates. As a result, these cities amassed huge wealth, remnants of which you can still see today in the beautiful merchant houses and unique facades lining centuries-old streets.

Cities Worth Your Time

The provincial capital, Zwolle, received city rights in 1230 and experienced its "Golden Age" as a Hanseatic city in the 15th century. Today it combines medieval city walls, canals, and mansions with modern museums and a vibrant cultural calendar. The city's Museum de Fundatie brings culture and history together in innovative ways, while Waanders in de Broeren transforms a Gothic monastery church into one of the most beautiful bookstores you will ever visit.

Deventer, one of the oldest cities in the Netherlands, still hosts Europe's largest book market annually on the first Sunday in August. With over 850 stalls stretching for more than six kilometers through picturesque streets, it attracts more than 100,000 visitors. The city also holds the Dickens Festival each December, transforming its center into 19th-century London. In Deventer, you will find not only the oldest stone house but also the oldest library and the oldest city park in the Netherlands.

Kampen, situated along the IJssel river, features more than 500 different historic monuments. The historic city of Zwolle and Deventer still have streets with patrician houses that provide a stylish character from their trading heyday.

Five Experiences Beyond the Guidebook

When staying in a treehouse in Overijssel, consider these activities that most tourists never discover:

1. Paddle Through a Labyrinth of Reeds

Skip the crowded parts of Giethoorn and explore the Weerribben-Wieden National Park by canoe or kayak instead. Because water and land alternate here constantly, the area is the habitat of thousands of plant and animal species. You might spot one of the otters that have made their home in these wetlands. The national park's reed beds and swamp forests offer a peaceful escape where the only sounds are quacking ducks and splashing water.

2. Walk the Pieterpad Through Rolling Hills

The Pieterpad, one of the most famous long-distance hiking trails in the Netherlands, passes through Sallandse Heuvelrug National Park. The Holterberg area is particularly popular for its panoramic views. You can walk trails that climb to some of the highest points of the ridge through vast heathlands and forests. The landscape includes forests, heathland, and sand drifts, with rare juniper shrubs adding character. Stay on the paths, as snakes love to sleep among the heather.

3. Discover a Secret Water-Powered Sawmill

The watermill on the Singraven estate is the only sawmill in the Netherlands that is powered by water. You can learn how the water wheel, grinding stones, and saw mechanism work at this hidden gem near the German border. The estate itself offers beautiful walking routes through the coulisse landscape of Twente.

4. Explore an Aristocratic Estate Frozen in Time

Twickel Castle near Delden is one of the most impressive country estates in the Netherlands. This protected historic estate spans 4,400 hectares of forests, natural areas, and farmland. The estate features traditional farmhouses with distinctive black-and-white shutters, centuries-old oak trees, blueberry patches, and rhododendrons growing on acid soils. The castle gardens, designed by famous landscape architects over centuries, showcase a beautiful blend of cultivated elegance and natural wildness.

5. Stargaze from the Hills

Sterrenwacht Hellendoorn, an observatory located in Sallandse Heuvelrug National Park, offers stargazing opportunities thanks to relatively low levels of light pollution. The visitor center at the foot of the Holterberg also provides educational exhibits about the park's ecology, making it a perfect activity after a day of exploring the heathlands.

Three Distinct Regions, One Province

Overijssel naturally divides into three characterful regions, each offering different experiences:

• Kop van Overijssel: The northwestern corner, home to the water-rich Weerribben-Wieden National Park and the village of Giethoorn, famous for its canals and thatched-roof farmhouses.
• Salland: The central region, featuring the rolling hills of the Sallandse Heuvelrug and the Hanseatic cities of Zwolle and Deventer along the IJssel river.
• Twente: The eastern region near the German border, known for its hilly landscape, historic estates like Twickel, and the innovative city of Enschede.

The Venice of the North Awaits

Giethoorn deserves special mention. This picturesque village in the Kop van Overijssel has earned the nickname "Dutch Venice" because of its enchanting canals and tranquil waterways. The village has 176 bridges connecting small islands where thatched-roof farmhouses from the 18th and 19th centuries line quiet canals. In the old part of the village, many houses cannot be reached by road at all.

The canals and lakes were formed by peat extraction centuries ago. The first mention of Giethoorn dates from 1225, and the name supposedly comes from the hundreds of goat horns that were discovered by early settlers. Today, locals and visitors navigate in whisper-quiet ways: by bike, boat, or foot. The best way to experience Giethoorn is by renting a whisper boat and quietly gliding past immaculately maintained gardens and under wooden footbridges.

Getting There and Getting Around

Overijssel is an important transit province with excellent connections to Germany and the rest of the Netherlands. Major motorways A1, A28, and A35 run through the province. The A28 crossing over the IJsselbrug sees around 130,000 vehicles daily, demonstrating how well-connected this region is.

For a more sustainable approach, the province is well served by rail, with direct connections from Amsterdam to Zwolle taking around 90 minutes. Giethoorn can be reached by train to Steenwijk followed by a short bus ride. Once you arrive, the extensive cycling network makes a car almost unnecessary.

A Different Kind of Dutch Experience

Overijssel offers everything travelers dream of finding in the Netherlands but struggle to locate amid tourist crowds: windmills dotting the landscape, canals perfect for boat trips, medieval city centers, vast nature reserves, and genuine local hospitality. The province combines this traditional Dutch charm with surprises you will not find elsewhere: hills that feel almost foreign, Europe's largest wetlands, and a sense of space that has become rare in this densely populated country.

Book a treehouse now and wake up to birdsong in the forests of Twente, cycle to a Hanseatic city for lunch, paddle through reed beds in the afternoon, and end your day watching the sunset from a hilltop viewpoint. In Overijssel, the Netherlands reveals a side of itself that even many Dutch people have yet to discover.